"To have done anything just for money is to have been truly idle"

This quote by Henry David Thoreau speaks to the concept that cash ought to not be the primary incentive for any action. Thoreau is suggesting that if one's only motivation for doing something is money, then they have actually not really accomplished anything of value. He is implying that money ought to not be the sole purpose for any action, which real success comes from doing something for its own sake. Thoreau is advocating for a life of purpose and significance, rather than among material gain. He is recommending that if one is only motivated by money, then they are not genuinely living a meaningful life. Thoreau's quote encourages us to believe beyond the product and to strive for something more meaningful. He is recommending that true success originates from doing something for its own sake, rather than for the money it may bring.